Unlock the Secrets of Ancient China: A Homeschool History Journey

Explore ancient China in your homeschool with this Dynastic Age curriculum. Enjoy a rich, Charlotte Mason approach to history!

Explore Ancient China in Your Homeschool with This Dynastic Age Curriculum!

There is something especially beautiful about studying history. It gives you a way to step into a time rich with tradition, wisdom, and wonder. And what better place to start than with ancient China- one of the world’s oldest and grandest empires? From majestic dynasties to breathtaking art, literature, and music, studying this period gives our children a chance to see history as something living and full of purpose.

If you have been longing for a way to explore ancient China in your homeschool that feels both rich and gentle, this Dynastic Age curriculum was created with you in mind. So often, history can feel like a long list of names and dates. But when we slow down and approach it the Charlotte Mason way, something shifts. History becomes a story; one filled with real people and real ideas, bringing a deeper understanding of the world.

This curriculum invites your family into that kind of learning. Instead of rushing through facts, you will spend time getting to know the culture behind this period through art, poetry, literature, and hands-on activities. You will explore the rise and fall of dynasties, the wisdom of ancient philosophers, and the beauty of traditions that have lasted for generations.

If you love the idea of truth, beauty, and goodness guiding your homeschool, this study fits right in. Through living books, narration, and thoughtful activities, your children are given space to connect with what they are learning. They are not just memorizing. They are forming relationships with history. This kind of learning grows slowly, but deeply. And over time, it builds a genuine love for history that lasts far beyond a single unit study.

I know how full homeschool days can feel. That is why this curriculum is designed to be open-and-go while still offering a rich experience. You can gather your children together during morning time or use it as a focused history block. The lessons are flexible enough to meet you where you are, whether you are teaching multiple ages or keeping things simple with younger learners. There is no pressure to do everything perfectly. Just come, learn, and enjoy your journey through time together! Want to find out more? Check out a small sample of what’s included below!

Ancient China Tea Time Recipes & Reading

Step into the flavors of ancient China with these thoughtfully chosen tea time recipes, inspired by traditional dishes that have been passed down from one generation to the next for centuries. Each recipe offers a small glimpse into daily life during the dynastic ages, giving your family a meaningful way to connect with the past through food.

Rice Balls
Sesame Flatbread (Shaobing)
Rice Cakes (Bai tang gao)
Scallion Flatbread
Tofu Pudding (Douhua)
Lotus Seed Buns

As you bake and prepare each treat together, you can pair it with a weekly reading selection for a cozy and memorable experience. Gather around the table, enjoy your tea, read aloud, and take time to talk about what you are learning. These simple moments often become the ones your children remember most!

Add a Historical Poem to Your Tea Time:

Our featured poet, Li Bai, lived during the Tang Dynasty, which is often considered the Golden Age of ancient China! To this day, he is considered one of China’s most famous poets, and for good reason: his poetry captures the beauty and spirit of his time, combining nature with deeper philosophical concepts. We selected twelve of his poems to study and paired four of our favorites with copywork sheets for deeper reflection. Check out a sample of one of these selections below:

Spring Morning
by Li Bai

I awake light-hearted this morning of spring,

Everywhere round me the singing of birds.

But now I remember the night, the storm,

And wonder how many blossoms were broken.

Discover Ancient China with the 190+ page “Dynastic Age Morning Time Session”!

Step into one of history’s oldest empires with the Dynastic Age morning time curriculum! This 190+ page guide has everything you need to study ancient China through creative, hands-on learning activities.

Inside, you’ll find:

6-week Calendar with each subject scheduled on it
Prayer and scripture memorization
Copywork selections from The Lord’s Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13), Proverbs 4:7, James 3:17, Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain, Ancient Air, Question and Answer on the Mountain, Staying the Night at a Mountain Temple, and Confuscius sayings compared and contrasted with scripture on the topics The Golden Rule, Knowledge vs. Foolishness, Being True to Your Word, Choosing Friends, Patience vs. Anger, Humility, Hard Work & Diligence, Self-Control, Integrity, Learning, Honoring Your Parents, and Self-Examination
in primary, elementary, cursive, and a notebook sheet for high school students (and moms)
Memory Work: Prayer, scripture memory, and poetry memorization
Living Books recommended reading list
Artist & Picture Study: 6 Ancient Chinese Artists– Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, Li Cheng, Fan Kuan, Guo Xi, and Zhang Zeduan
Music Study: Ancient Chinese Music with a study of Ling Lun
Poet & Poetry Study: Li Bai, with the poems Quiet Night Thoughts, Watching the Waterfall at Mount Lu, Spring Morning, A Song of an Autumn Midnight, Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain, Ancient Air, Question and Answer on the Mountain, Hearing a Flute on a Spring Night in Luoyang, Marble Steps Complaint, Staying the Night at a Mountain Temple, Viewing Heaven’s Gate Mountains, and At the Yellow Crane Tower to Bid Meng Haoran Goodbye
Hymn Study: Great Is Thy Faithfulness with sheet music and listening links
Folk Song Study: Mo Li Hua, with sheet music and listening links
Ancient China-Inspired Recipes: Rice Balls, Sesame Flatbread (Shaobing), Tofu Pudding (Douhua), Scallion Flatbread, Rice Cakes (Bai tang gao), and Lotus Seed Buns
Tea Time Readings: Ch. XI “The Reward of a Benevolent Life,” from Chinese Folk Lore Tales, by Rev. J. MacGowan, “Bamboo and the Turtle” from The Chinese Wonder Book, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman, Ch. XLIII ”The Dragon After His Winter Sleep” from The Chinese Fairy Book, by Dr. Richard Wilhelm, Chapter XIII “The Fox and the Raven” from The Chinese Fairy Book, by Dr. Richard Wilhelm, “How the Moon Became Beautiful” from Chinese Fables and Folk Stories, by Mary Hayes Davis and Chow-Leung, The Clever Wife, from the Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220)
Geography: Map Studies of Ancient China, Chapters 28-30 from Book of Marvels: The Orient, by Richard Halliburton, links to Augustus Caesar’s World, by Genevieve Foster, The Story of China, by R. Van Bergen, China’s Story, by William Elliot Griffis, and Genghis Khan, by Jacob Abbott
Handicraft: Chinese Paper Lantern
Art Lesson: Chinese Landscape
Nature Study: Ancient China Nature Study
Plutarch: The Children’s Plutarch: Stories of the Greeks, “The Man with Many Faces”
And more!

Ready to explore history in your homeschool? Get your guide today and let your adventure begin!

Purchase the Dynastic Age Morning Time Session for Only $47

Chinese Landscape Art Lesson

Each of our curriculums is paired with an accompanying art lesson, and for The Dynastic Age, we will recreate an ancient Chinese landscape painting in sumi ink and watercolors! Scale this lesson up or down depending on your children’s ages and make it as detailed or simple as needed. When the paint dries, your kids will have a physical reminder of all they learned about ancient China!

Enjoying your art lesson too much to stop? Grab these history-themed lessons from the Masterpiece Society to keep the fun going!

Art Through the Ages: Eastern Art

Nature Journaling: Birds

Living Books to Explore Ancient China in Your Homeschool

Want more ways to dive further into the Dynastic Age? These living books are a perfect way to unpack history with engaging stories, vivid illustrations, and options for all ages! Check them out at your local library, or grab a few copies to build your homeschool library below!

The Dynastic Age Morning Time Curriculum: A Beautiful Way to Bring Ancient China to Life!

Studying ancient China is more than just a history lesson. It is an opportunity to slow down, to wonder, and to grow together as a family. You are not just teaching your children about the past, but helping them see the world with curiosity and appreciation. You are giving them stories to hold onto and ideas to think about. And truly, those are the things that matter most.

If you have been looking for a meaningful, gentle way to explore ancient China in your homeschool, I hope this Dynastic Age curriculum becomes a sweet and memorable part of your days!